Silver Lining

Areion

The meeting room inside the heart of the Jungle Palace was as grand as it was solemn.

The high ceilings were woven with vines, their lush green leaves shimmering in the evening light, while wooden beams, carved with intricate patterns depicting the Jungle's wildlife, framed the space.

The windows were wide, allowing the fading sunlight to filter in, casting long shadows across the floor.

At the center of the room stood a large, circular table, carved from a single massive tree trunk, polished to a sheen, and surrounded by the most powerful figures on the Western Continent.

The atmosphere was heavy.

The crisis with the stray black mages had cast a dark shadow over the Western Continent, leaving behind chaos, fear, and far too many casualties.

Though the immediate threat had been dealt with, the aftermath remained unresolved, and the room now buzzed with the weight of their deliberations.

At the far side of the table sat Cale Henituse, though many in the room knew him as Young Master Cale.

He sat calmly, leaning back slightly in his chair, as though he were at a casual luncheon, seemingly unconcerned with the gravity of the situation.

His red hair caught the last bit of sunlight, giving him an almost ethereal glow, and his face was, as usual, unreadable.

But those who knew him well understood that this calm was a calculated front.

Cale was always thinking—always several steps ahead.

Across from him, Duke Clopeh Sekka, representing the Northern, sat with his usual unsettling grin, his silver hair glinting in the dim light.

His gaze was fixed on Cale, unwavering, the intensity in his green eyes almost bordering on fanatical.

Though others might have found Clopeh's devotion to Cale unnerving, the Duke's cool-headedness was undeniable.

Next to him was Breck Kingdom's King John, his soft-spoken nature juxtaposed by the steel in his eyes.

Though he rarely raised his voice, his quiet words carried weight, reflecting his deep care for his kingdom and its people.

Next to him, King Valentino of Caro Kingdom tapped his fingers on the table, whose sharp tongue often made him seem confrontational.

He wasn't afraid to speak his mind, and though it often seemed like he was at odds with Cale, he never forgot how Cale had saved his kingdom several times.

His words often sounded as though he were challenging every step of the discussion, even when he didn't mean to.

Further along, sat King Rex of the Mogoru Kingdom, his logical mind quietly analyzing the situation.

The youngest of the group and also once a commoner.

Though he wore his crown with confidence now, Rex had never forgotten the kindness Cale had shown him during his rise to the throne.

The Whipper Kingdom's delegation was present as well, with King Toonka sitting like a mountain, his massive frame radiating raw strength.

Beside him was Prime Minister Harol, a thin man with a sharp intellect who spoke more often than his king.

Harol's strategic mind was often the voice of reason in Whipper, but Toonka always had the final say.

And at the head of the table sat Queen Litana of the Jungle in silence, her expression as fierce and righteous as ever.